MRI confirms torn ACL for Vanderbilt center Josh Henderson

Vanderbilt men’s basketball center Josh Henderson will miss the rest of this season and need at least 8-9 months recovery time after sustaining a serious left knee injury on Thursday, according to a team official.

An MRI revealed the 6-foot-11 junior tore his ACL, MCL and lateral meniscus during the first half of the Commodores’ 69-67 win over Marshall.

Henderson could be ready for the start of next season, assuming he returns as a fifth-year senior.

The injury occurred on the defensive end as Henderson’s teammates blocked a pair of shots to stop a transition opportunity for Marshall. But as the sequence concluded, Henderson dropped to the court in agonizing pain. Coach Kevin Stallings said he thought inadvertent contact with a teammate may have led to the injury.

Henderson was praised by coaches for his work this past offseason and had begun to look like one of the team’s most improved players. The Roanoke, Va., native averaged 6.6 points and 4.3 rebounds through eight games while splitting time in the post with freshman Damian Jones.

Henderson missed all but eight games as a redshirt freshman in 2011-12 due to a stress fracture in his foot that required surgeries during and after the season, limiting his preparation time for 2012-13. He still played in all 33 games and started 21 as a sophomore.

About The Author

Jeff Lockridge

I have been on the Vanderbilt beat since 2009, at The Tennessean since 2000 and a sports journalist since 1997. Prior to Vanderbilt, I covered primarily high schools from 2000-09. My reporting history also includes stints covering the Titans, Auburn and minor league baseball. I'm a Nashville native and a graduate of Overton High (1993) and Austin Peay (1997). I live in Fr